MOLECULAR APPROACHES TO NONTOXIC ANTIFOULING

A consequence of environmental and human health concerns arising from the use of toxic metals in marine antifouling coatings has been to rec ognise the need for a nontoxic alternative to fouling control. Recent research has focused on two approaches to this problem: the developmen t of (a) foul-release coatings that work on the principle of either lo w surface free energy or coating ablation, and (b) coatings that incor porate a compound(s) that is nontoxic, or at least environmentally ben ign, that will deter fouling. Here we discuss the nature of the foulin g problem and a new technology that is emerging to address it. The use of natural marine products and of analogues to these compounds holds considerable promise and is an area of intense research. It is recogni zed, however, that a melding of the technologies of foul-release and f oul-deterrence may be required to develop broad spectrum, nontoxic ant ifouling coatings. This approach may more closely reflect antifouling strategies adopted by marine organisms that maintain a foul-free surfa ce.